Onyinye Omachukwu Empowerment Foundation, a nongovernmental organization has offered scholarships to 100 indigent primary school pupils Living Christ Nursery and Primary School, Onitsha, Anambra State.
The foundation also distributed over 700 basic cleaning kits containing toiletries, toothpaste and brushes, hand wash and sanitizers, among other materials to encourage children to live clean and healthy lifestyle.
It equally commissioned Health Post and Nature Mother Nature Initiative (Save The Mother Earth) programmes in the school premises to promote a healthy living among the students, staff and residents of the state.
Founder and Chairperson of the Foundation, Amb. Onyinye Gift Uwaechia said the scholarship was targeted at laying good foundation for less privileged children in the society.
She revealed plans by her Foundation to institute a Health Centre to accommodate more health services in the area, explaining that the idea behind the Nurture Mother Nature Initiative was to save Mother Earth.
She said, “The goal of the foundation remains to impact positively on people’s lives as well as sensitize young stars to take responsibility for their environment and health.
“The goal is to empower as many people as possible, one at a time. When one person is meaningfully empowered, he can go on and empower others, setting a chain of positive impacts in society.
“I chose my first port of call to be Living Christ Nursery and Primary School School, Onitsha, Anambra State, to teach and sensitize the young stars on the need for them to take responsibility for their environment and health.
“If we can catch them young and help them inculcate the duty of care and responsibility, the future is sure.
“Our vision has been replicated in other places including Abaji, Federal Capital Territory, Zango-Kataf community in Kaduna, where we donated cash, food items and other humanitarian materials to the less privileged.”
Uwaechia however called on well-meaning individuals to key into the United Nations Goal 17 approach of partnership and collaboration for the society’s advancement.
Speaking shortly after commissioning of Onyinye Omachukwu Foundation Health Post, Wife of the State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo commended the Foundation for the initiative, calling for its maximal utilisation and proper maintenance.
Soludo, represented by Executive Secretary Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, ASPHDA, Pharm. Chisom Uchem urged residents of the state to maintain healthy living to enjoy quality life.
“You must make up your mind to sacrifice certain unhealthy habits that do not go well with your body formula. You must understand that to live healthy is to live happily.
Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Patrick Ahamba who doubled as the chairman of the occasion commended the foundation for the gestures, saying the initiative was in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s agenda on human capital development.
He said the current administration was passionate about the health needs of the people, urging stakeholders to embrace the Public Community Private Partnership of government for the development of the state.
Earlier, Executive Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Assoc. Prof. Vera Nwadinobi described primary education as fundamental stage in the life of every human being, urging every school to key into the Healthy Living Garden initiative of government.